Metal News for March 20, 2003

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The SoCal quintet Shiva has changed their name to Eyes of Fire and have just finished tracking their debut release with producer Cameron Webb (Danzig, Monster Magnet). The album, described as a mix of Pink Floyd, Sepultura, and Neurosis, will contain an enhanced video section with live footage and possibly a video clip. EYES OF FIRE will release their Century Media debut EP in June, soon to be followed by their debut full-length CD, tentatively scheduled for a late summer release. A title for the full length has yet to be disclosed and some song titles for their upcoming full-length debut include The End Result Of Falling, Empty, Shelter, Anyone and Fly Away. They will be hitting the road in late April for a brief west coast run to test out their new material.

Slipknot are expected to start work on their new album with producer Rick Rubin very shortly. As yet untitled, it does have a tentative release date of late October. This is rumoured to be the band’s last record.

Line up changes for Malevolence. Drummer Gustavo Costa was replaced by Joel Silva, who has been rehearsing with the band since November 2002. The band is preparing their third studio album, which is scheduled for an early 2004 release.

Relapse Records will release Mortician's Darkest Day of Horror on the 22nd of April 2003. For all the die-hard fans, there is a limited edition of this album available at every Mortician show. Or you can order it directly through their website (be quiet since there's only few copies left).The guys have also released their first official live album, Final Bloodbath Session, through Primitive Recordings and it features a real drummer (no drum-machine this time).

Agoraphobic Nosebleed announce new album. Their new disc, Altered States Of America, will be released through Relapse Records on April 1st 2003. You can expect 100 acid grind "hits" that will make the weak hearted tremble.

God Dethroned will be headlining the Death Across America tour, which starts at the end of May. The lineup is God Dethroned, Skinless, Divine Empire and All Out War. Tour dates will be announced shortly at God Dethroned’s website, www.goddethroned.com

More details have emerged about the memorial concert for Finntroll/Impaled Nazarene guitarist Teemu "Somnium" Raimoranta, who died Sunday morning (March 16) from injuries sustained in an accidental fall he took while intoxicated.

The gig will take place on Tuesday, March 25 at Nosturi in Helsinki and will feature the following lineup: